Park City – The Sundance Collection (shorts)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Shorts: C

 

 

A few years ago, Vanguard issued a five-shorts set called Park City, for which there was not a direct follow-up.  Other Sundance shorts sets have surfaced (Official Selections is also covered on the site), and more and more DVDs are being issued, offering the same type of content (the Resfest series).  The five works here are as follows:

 

Hollywood (& Vine) (Gregory Razin, 1.33 X 1, 1992) – This is an average look at a pickpocket (Keith Brunsmann) and the half-life he leads.  This is a film where the character does a voice-over, and like most of them, simply does little to be intriguing, interesting, original, show or tell us something we never heard before.

 

Jimmy Walks Away (Eric Weinrib, 1.85 X 1, 1996) – The title character (Richard S. Oliver) keeps putting himself into situations that invite conflict, but oddly, he cannot seem to buy a fight, no matter how hard he tries.  His solution to his desire is somewhat original, but the film’s humor is never totally realized.

 

Among Others (Trac Yu, 1.66 X 1, 1999) – A young male prostitute (a very convincing John Cho) reflects on his life and what makes him happy as he drifts through some situations that are simply not making him happy.  He obviously has an idea of what would make him happy, but is stuck in a life he is not happy with.  He eventually meets a fellow Gay man (Neil Cameron) suffering deep depression from his lover being in a coma, and they meet.  This one is not bad, and far better than the post-Gay New Wave crap that is just about totally oblivious to reality.

 

Love Bites (Michael Horowitz/Colburn Tseng, 1.85 X 1, 1999) – A disaster that is trying to be a dark comedy, but instead is a really bad joke on the audience that wants to have fun with cannibalistic killers.  Beyond tired, it proves that even very shocking subject that remain so cannot be good by being only shocking, when they are totally clichéd and idiotic.

 

Man About Town (Kris Issacson, 1.33 X 1, 1996) – The best is saved for last (including as far as sound quality is concerned) about an alcoholic who finds he needs to stop partying.  This is shot in black and white, and nicely so.  It feels as real as it looks, and is the only other short besides Among Others that will stay with me.

 

The images are average overall, with none of the letterboxed shorts being anamorphically enhanced.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 ranges from flat Mono to the distinct stereo on Man About Town despite no surround information.  There are no extras.

 

Overall, I was not happy with most of these shorts and am surprised more were not fitted onto the DVD.  Park City has some moments, but if your hands on it, don’t expect much.  Just stick with Among Others and Man About Town.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo